An Electronics Student's Interview

This is probably fictitious, but then again, maybe not.

Interviewer: Why is a thicker conductor necessary to carry AC current as compared to DC?

Student: An AC current goes up and down (drawing a sinusoid) and requires more space inside the wire, so the wire has to be thicker.

Interviewer: How will you tell if that wall outlet carries AC or DC?

Student: I will put my finger in. If it is pushed away, it is DC. If it gets stuck, it was AC.

Interviewer: How will you reverse direction of an induction motor?

Student: I will remove the four bolts at the base, turn the motor around, and put back the bolts.

Interviewer: How do you start a synchronous motor?

Student: Vrrrrrrrmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm (in rising pitch)

Interviewer: Stop! Stop!

Student: rrrrrrrmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm (in falling pitch)

Interviewer: How do you limit surge current within an integrated circuit?

Student: By using a miniature circuit breaker.

Interviewer: Why does a capacitor block DC but allow AC to pass through?

Student: See, a capacitor is like this ---| |--- , OK. DC Comes straight, like this ----------, and the capacitor stops it. But AC, goes UP, DOWN, Up DOWN and jumps right over the capacitor!"

Interviewer: "What is a step-up transformer?"

Student: "A transformer that is put on top of electric poles."

Interviewer: "And then what is a step-down transformer?"

 (smiling)

Student: "Uh -- A transformer that is put in the basement or in a pit?"

 (hesitantly)

Interviewer: "Then what do you call a transformer that is installed on the ground?"

(pouncing)

(Student knows he is caught -- can't answer)

Interviewer: "Well?"

(impatiently)

Student: "A stepless transformer, sir!"

(triumphantly)

 ---from the Portland Amateur Radio Club website